Celebrate Every Day

I love the stories of words. The fact that the etymology of the word holiday comes from the Old English halig dæg or holy day makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. (I just pegged myself as a word geek, didn’t I?) I believe holidays should be sacred times, occasions for people to come together and celebrate.

But sometimes the craziness around a holiday can overshadow its intended message. The examples that come most quickly to my mind are Valentine’s Day, Earth Day, and Veterans Day. The cacophony that surrounds Valentine’s Day is enough to drown out the message, “Tell the special people in your life that you love and appreciate them,” while Earth Day often involves a flurry of advertising for so-called green products rather than acknowledgement of the unique and wonderful nature of our planet. Veterans Day includes parades and brass bands while the idea that those who have given their all for our country should be honored stands shyly on the sidelines. Read more